Top 10: Unique Vacation Experiences

Number 7

Go nude at Playa de las Tortugas

Huatulco, Mexico

There's nothing more unique than shedding your clothes and visiting a nudist resort. At Playa de las Tortugas, couples and singles stroll the beautiful resort area completely in the buff. It may seem like a daunting task to wear your birthday suit while beautiful ladies go about their business as if being nude were the norm, but it's something you'll get used to, especially with all the "perks" offered. These include a fully stocked bungalow, drinks of all kinds and gourmet meals.

The resort has only 10 rooms, so book early if you're into this sort of vacation. If you're on the fence about nudism, the cost may help change your mind: the range hovers around $100 per night.

Number 6

Freak out at Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh, Scotland

Though the structure may initially strike you as ornate and quite beautiful, the effect is lost once you enter Edinburgh Castle in Scotland's heartland. Reports of ghosts (both human and canine), a headless drummer and other supernatural phenomena have made this castle a popular haunted vacation spot.

If you're in the mood for something off the wall and eerily real, this castle is the spot. Check out the prison cells and an alleyway used to quarantine plague victims, for an experience right out of The Blair Witch Project . Admission at the castle, which is open seven days a week, is approximately $16.

Number 5

Cross the Sahara

Africa

The immense sea of sand blanketing North Africa has been a barrier to travelers for ages, but now, there are routes across the Sahara that are attracting adventurers by the thousands. The experience is physically and mentally challenging, but many welcome the nomadic way of life, since it's a big change from the hustle and bustle of our urban lifestyle.

Trips start off in Tunisia or Morocco, and take tourists to ancient cities before setting out in caravans with vehicles that have been specially designed to traverse the Sahara. You'll cross sand dunes, visit oasis markets and learn the customs of African tribes. The vacations vary in length, but most last at least three weeks and some even extend past two months. Expect to pay between $2,500 and $4,000 for this experience.

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